Revelation 15:1-4 (NRSV)
All nations will worship God
Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and amazing: seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended.
And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
"Great and amazing are your deeds,
Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations!
Lord, who will not fear
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your judgments have been revealed."
Reflection
Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and amazing: seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended.
And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
"Great and amazing are your deeds,
Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations!
Lord, who will not fear
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your judgments have been revealed."
Reflection
Throughout history we receive examples of God's saving grace. God led the Israelites out of slavery through the Red Sea. Noah and his family were saved from the flood through God's grace for this family. Jonah was saved from certain death and given a second chance in his ministry through God's act of loving grace. Story after story continues where God shows that he saves his people.
Today in your life and mine, we have been guided by God through decisions, illness, deaths, and rescues and shown God's saving grace. We cling to our faith. A faith that brings hope and trust in God and his saving grace through Jesus life, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension and the Holy Spirit's descending to call and enlighten each one of us.
The sea reminds me of the large bowl of water in the front of the tabernacle that the priests would wash their hands in after killing the sacrifice to be offered to God. So many images come to mind of how we gather around the baptismal font and the center of attention is not ourselves, or the baby, or the one being baptized. The center of our attention is Jesus and his actions and saving grace. The center of attention is the Father, Son and Spirit and the gift of life given through the sacrifice of the Son.
And as we gather together to remember this saving grace around the wine and the bread, the body and the blood, we celebrate, as we will once again, around the glassy sea, united as one, that saving grace God has given to us through Jesus.
What rich blessings God has given to us as we gather around one with another to celebrate our real and true and faithful hope of salvation in the loving gift and freedom from sin and death that God has given to us through the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, you paint with broad strokes and fine detail, a vision of love and grace, as we gather together here on earth and in heaven to give thanks for the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, may we dream dreams and see visions of you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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